Art form structure and method of making

ABSTRACT

A pair of initially flat metal strips are disposed at right angles and interfolded repeatedly to produce a form which may be expanded axially or longitudinally with a simultaneous twisting movement to produce the art form which may be employed to make a variety of objects. The art form structure possesses a characteristic triangular shape in cross section with an interwoven appearance for the two strips of metal or similar sheet material.

United States Patent [191 David [54] ART FORM STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING [76] Inventor: Andrew Mitchell David, 107 Wythe Crescent Dr., Hampton, Va. 23361 22 Filed: Nov. 7, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 304,475

[52] U.S. Cl. 29/l9l.6, 46/1 L, 93/84, 161/15, 270/32 [51] Int. Cl B2ld 11/00 [58] Field ofSearch.....161/106,101,14,15,17, 7; 46/1 L; 93/84 R; 29/191.6; 270/32 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS R27,094 3/1971 Rosaen et a1 93/84 R UX 2,922,239 1/1960 Glynn, Jr. 161/1 Y 3,345,211 10/1967 Lafon et a1 136/6 B 3,518,785 7/1970 Behr 46/1 L 1 Feb. 19, 1974 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Day-Gummed Strip and Paper Modelingpg 39, Publisher C. Arthur Pearson, Ltd. London, 1955.

Primary ExaminerA. B. Curtis Assistant ExaminerO. F. Crutchfield Attorney, Agent, or FirmB. P. Fishburne, Jr.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A pair of initially flat metal strips are disposed at right angles and interfolded repeatedly to produce a form which may be expanded axially or longitudinally with a simultaneous twisting movement to produce the art form which may be employed to make a variety of objects. The art form structure possesses a characteristic triangular shape in cross section with an interwoven appearance for the two strips of metal or similar sheet material.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures ART FORM STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING The objective of the invention is to produce a unique structure which may be utilized to make a variety of art forms or Ornamental devices, both large and small. The structure produced by the invention is preferably embodied in a pair of interfolded and intertwined initially flat sheet metal strips but could be produced from other sheet materials possessing broadly similar physical characteristics to sheet metal. It is contemplated that the resulting art form structure may be employed in the making ofjewelry and other small artistic devices and also in larger artistic devices up to the size which could be included in the construction of buildings for ornamental trim and the like. The invention is therefore characterized by maximum versatility of use for the end product and economy of manufacture in terms of ease of production and adaptability to inexpensive materials, such as brass strips, aluminum or the like. Additionally, the artistic structure produced by the invention does not require great skill to make, as will be understood from the following detailed description.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of two strips of sheet material forming the basic construction elements in the invention.

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view showing the manner of alternately cross folding the two strips into intertwined engagement.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the intermediate structure produced by the folding of the two strips and further showing how the structure can be expanded.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the expanded intermediate structure and further showing the twisting of the intermediate structure into a final configuration.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation ofa fragmentary section of the art form structure produced by the invention, the view being taken normal to one of the three sides of the structure.

FIG. 6 is a similar elevational view of the finished structure looking down on one edge or apex thereof.

FIG. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a similar section on line 88 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a similar section on line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of an artistic device made with two sections of the art form embodying the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows the initial step in producing the art form embodying the invention, wherein two relatively narrow flat strips and 21 of suitable sheet metal or the like are arranged at right angles with their end portions overlapping at the apex of the angle. Instead of the two separate strips 20 and 21, as arranged in FIG. 1, the art form can be produced from a single elongated strip folded diagonally near its midpoint to produce two connected branches in right angular relationship.

Proceeding to FIG. 2, the two strips 20 and 21 are now alternately folded over and across each other a plurality of times while maintaining the right angular relationship of the strips as indicated by the two arrows.

I The initial folding of the strip 21 across the strip 20, il-

lustrated by the single arrow in FIG. 1, being shown in FIG. 2. Following this, the strip 20 will be similarly folded over and across the strip 21 and this folding operation will be repeated until the two strips of any chosen practical length are completely interfolded or intertwined into the compressed compact folded rectangular intermediate structure 22 illustrated by FIG. 3. Obviously, the length of the structure 22, as well as its rectangular cross sectional size, will depend upon the initial lengths and widths of the two strips 20 and 21.

After the folding operation is completed, the structure 22 is tensioned axially in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3 and gradually expanded into the next intermediate configuration depicted by FIG. 4. During this axial expansion, the product will naturally exhibit a twisting motion illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 4 as the intermediate structure 22 gradually opens up into the next intermediate structure 23 shown in FIG. 4. The tensioning instrumentalities expanding the opposite ends of the structure will have to turn with the natural twisting motion of the expanding structure, as shown in FIG. 4.

When the intermediate structure 23 is expanded to a maximum degree where it will become very taut and will resist any further expansion up to the actual failure of the product in tension, it is necessary to continue twisting the intermediate product, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 4, in order to completely straighten the edge or ridge lines of the characteristic triangular cross section structure. After this final twisting of the intermediate product 23 to a straightened condition, the final product or art form 24 is completed as shown in FIGS. 5 through 9.

The art form 24 is essentially a straight bar-like structure having a generally triangular cross section, FIGS. 7 to 9. As viewed normal to any of its three side faces, FIG. 5, the product 24 will exhibit a modified twisted and intertwined appearance for the two strips 20 and 21 with creases or folding ridges 25 appearing at equally spaced intervals along the particular side and deep recesses 26 formed between each adjacent pair of ridges. The construction and appearance of each of the three side faces of the product will be identical except for the fact that each succeeding face is a reversal or mirror image of the next preceding face.

FIG. 6 depicts the art form 24 looking down on top of one of its three longitudinal edges or ridges formed by short alternating intertwined sections of the strips 20 and 21. This view also shows the two adjacent sloping side faces of the product having the previouslydescribed ridges 25 and deep intervening recesses 26. The construction and appearance of the finished art form can be better understood in connection with cross sectional FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. These figures shown progressively the arrangement of the previously-described components at various points along the art form 24 and all of these cross sectional shapes are repetitive at identical points along the art form which may be of any desired and practical length.

Finally, FIG. 10 exhibits one example of an artistic or decorative article produced by utilizing a pair of sections of the product 24, namely, a cross. The two sections 24 may be joined by soldering or welding or by other conventional attachment means. lt should be clear that various structural and ornamental devices both large and small can be produced from the unique sheet metal art form and the wide utility of the invention should be apparent to anyone skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. An art form constructed from a pair of initially flat sheet material strips which are arranged at right angles with overlapping end portions and then alternately folded across each other a plurality of times to produce an intermediate substantially solid rectangular form which is subsequently expanded axially and twisted around the axis of the intermediate form to produce said art form, said art form comprising a basically triangular cross section elongated body portion having three distinct longitudinal edges and intervening substantially identical side faces, said side faces formed by the intertwining of said strips caused by the folding of the strips and said side faces including a multiplicity of longitudinally equidistantly spaced generally transverse ridges and intervening deep tapering recesses, said recesses on each face of the art form extending substantially to the opposing longitudinal edge of the art form.

2. The structure of claim 1, and said initially flat strips formed of readily bendable sheet metal.

3. An art form comprising a single pair of intertwined originally flat sheet material strips of equal width which have been interfolded and subsequently expanded and twisted to make the art form. said art form comprising a generally triangular cross section elongated body having three distinct longitudinal edge portions defining apices of the triangular configuration and intervening deeply recessed side faces, each having a multiplicity of equally sized recesses and intervening equally spaced ridges extending generally transversely of the art form and collectively defining the planes of the three side faces of the art form, said recesses in each of the faces tapering inwardly of the faces and extending approximately to the opposite longitudinal edge of the art form.

4. The structure of claim 3, and said recesses possessing smoothly rounded surfaces.

5. A method of producing an art form structure comprising alternately cross-folding a pair of strips of sheet material a plurality of times while the strips are maintained at a right angle and thereby producing a solid rectangular cross section body, expanding said body axially by the application ofa tension force thereto and simultaneously twisting said body during said axial expansion in the direction which the body naturally tends to twist, additionally twisting said body an additional amount in the same direction after the body is fully expanded axially to straighten the edge portions of the body and to cause the same to assume a substantially uniform roughly triangular cross sectional shape with three substantially straight parallel vertex edge portions and intervening uniformly deeply recessed side faces. l 

2. The structure of claim 1, and said initially flat strips formed of readily bendable sheet metal.
 3. An art form comprising a single pair of intertwined originally flat sheet material strips of equal width which have been interfolded and subsequently expanded and twisted to make the art form, said art form comprising a generally triangular cross section elongated body having three distinct longitudinal edge portions defining apices of the triangular configuration and intervening deeply recessed side faces, each having a multiplicity of equally sized recesses and intervening equally spaced ridges extending generally transversely of the art form and collectively defining the planes of the three side faces of the art form, said recesses in each of the faces tapering inwardly of the faces and extending approximately to the opposite longitudinal edge of the art form.
 4. The structure of claim 3, and said recesses possessing smoothly rounded surfaces.
 5. A method of producing an art form structure comprising alternately cross-folding a pair of strips of sheet material a plurality of times while the strips are maintained at a right angle and thereby producing a solid rectangular cross section body, expanding said body axially by the application of a tension force thereto and simultaneously twisting said body during said axial expansion in the direction which the body naturally tends to twist, additionally twisting said body an additional amount in the same direction after the body is fully expanded axially to straighten the edge portions of the body and to cause the same to assume a substantially uniform roughly triangular cross sectional shape with three substantially straight parallel vertex edge portions and intervening uniformly deeply recessed side faces. 